Chapter 158: Chapter 156: If I Don’t Kill You, I Am No Man

Inside Taoyuan Town.

His face pale, Jiang Chen watched the battle outside Taoyuan Town while being supported by Xiao Qingyi.

Every clash between Aunt Yun and Yun Jianshen made their hearts leap into their throats.

Xiao Qingyi’s face was filled with worry, her slender hands gripping Jiang Chen’s arm tightly. "Aunt Yun... you have to be okay..."

"Qingyi, don’t worry. Aunt Yun will be fine!" Jiang Chen patted her hand reassuringly.

Xiao Qingyi nodded.

Her pearly white teeth bit down on her lip as she stared, unblinking, at the battlefield outside Taoyuan Town—a scene of apocalyptic, rioting Spiritual Qi.

Until Aunt Yun, no match for Yun Jianshen, was struck. Her body seemed to shatter, staining the sky with blood.

Ghastly cracks covered her frail frame, and blood flowed like a spring, turning Aunt Yun into a figure bathed in red.

Her face covered in blood, she glanced back at Xiao Qingyi and offered a gentle smile. "Qingyi, I promised your parents that I would never let anyone harm you. Aunt Yun is useless now. I can’t take care of you anymore..." She then looked at Jiang Chen. "Jiang Chen, please take good care of Qingyi for me. She’s had a bitter life. Don’t let her be hurt again!"

The moment her words fell,

terrifying waves of energy erupted from Aunt Yun’s body as a bloody light shot into the sky.

BOOM—

The world shook as the terrifying energy detonated, leveling more than half of Yunxian Valley!

"No... Aunt Yun... DON’T..." Xiao Qingyi’s face turned deathly pale, her eyes filled with despair. Tears blurring her vision, she screamed hysterically.

Her slender body struggled violently, trying to rush out of Taoyuan Town.

"Qingyi, calm down! Don’t be rash..." Jiang Chen quickly grabbed Xiao Qingyi, shouting.

"Let me go! I have to find Aunt Yun... Let me go!"

"Aunt Yun, come back... please come back..."

Tears streamed down Xiao Qingyi’s face. Sobbing uncontrollably in Jiang Chen’s tight embrace, she wept powerlessly. "Brother Jiang Chen... Aunt... Aunt Yun is dead... She’s dead..."

"I know. I know everything. Don’t be afraid, Qingyi. You still have me! I won’t leave you. I’ll always take care of you..." Jiang Chen held the softly sobbing girl tightly, his heart aching for her. His gaze, now filled with blazing fury, turned toward the world outside Taoyuan Town.

As the terrifying Energy Storm began to dissipate, a figure unexpectedly descended from the sky.

This person was none other than Yun Jianshen!

Yun Jianshen’s robes were tattered and torn. Disheveled and grimy, he was a miserable sight. Although he had dodged Aunt Yun’s self-detonation in time, he had still been caught in the blast, leaving him in a sorry state.

An icy glint flickered in his eyes as he looked at the mangled remains of Aunt Yun’s corpse and said coldly, "Since breaking through to the Heavenly Destiny Realm, you’re the first person to leave me in such a pathetic state. How hateful!"

With a flick of his finger, a Sword Finger shot out.

BANG—

The remaining half of Aunt Yun’s body was blasted into smithereens, leaving not a trace behind.

Inside Taoyuan Town, Jiang Chen witnessed it all. His clenched fists made a cracking sound, veins pulsed on his forehead, and his eyes filled with absolute, grim killing intent. ’Aunt Yun, rest assured. I will take good care of Qingyi, and I will definitely avenge you!’

As if sensing Jiang Chen’s gaze, Yun Jianshen looked toward Taoyuan Town.

Aunt Yun had used a Secret Technique to move Taoyuan Town into Yunxian Valley and had also set up a profound Array, making it impossible for ordinary people to see inside.

But Yun Jianshen was a Heavenly Destiny Realm expert. His sharp gaze pierced through the Array and landed on Jiang Chen and Xiao Qingyi. The corner of his mouth lifted into a cold smile. "So, you’re protected by an Array. A pity that such a pitiful Array is as fragile as tofu before my power."

The moment he finished speaking, Yun Jianshen pointed a finger.

BZZZT—

A silver beam of light, half a meter thick, shot out like a bolt of heavenly lightning!

BOOM!

The pillar of light slammed into Taoyuan Town.

RUMBLE—

The entire town shook violently. Under the force of that single finger, the two Cyan Rock Lions were crushed to dust.

The hemispherical barrier of the Array enveloping Taoyuan Town was also shattered by Yun Jianshen’s attack, exposing Jiang Chen and Xiao Qingyi to him.

A mocking smile played on Yun Jianshen’s face. "Tsk, tsk, what a tragic parting. Watching your loved one die right before your eyes, completely powerless to help... it’s a terrible feeling, isn’t it? Hahaha! Boy, why don’t you obediently hand over that Earth-Tier Battle Sword and the woman to me? I might just be merciful enough to spare your life!"

"Yun Jianshen, the Spirit-Slaying Sword is on me. If you want it, come and take it yourself!" Jiang Chen sneered.

A flash of greenish-gold light suddenly shot through his eyes.

Divine Thought Shock!

An invisible Divine Thought Blade surged toward Yun Jianshen, burying itself between his brows with a soft *PFFT*.

"Ahhh..."

Yun Jianshen’s expression changed drastically. He let out a bloodcurdling scream, clutching his head with both hands.

SWOOSH!

His entire body crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

’Did it work?’

Jiang Chen’s face lit up with joy, but it was immediately followed by a muffled grunt. His complexion turned deathly pale, and his aura weakened considerably as he coughed up a mouthful of blood. His expression became incredibly grim. ’Dammit. A Heavenly Destiny Realm expert’s Divine Thought is too strong. I’m suffering from the backlash.’

"ROAR..."

At the same time, Yun Jianshen shot back into the air. His eyes were crimson, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. A surging killing intent boiled like magma as his furious roar shook the heavens and the earth. "You little bastard, you dare to ambush me? ROAR! If I don’t tear you to shreds today, then I, Yun Jianshen, am unworthy of my Heavenly Destiny!"

"Infinite Sword Finger—"

Yun Jianshen pointed, and a terrifying Sword Aura tore through the air, vast and mighty, like a heavenly pillar sweeping across the world.

It carried an unparalleled Destruction Power.

As it descended upon Taoyuan Town, houses collapsed one after another, and the townspeople, who had fallen into slumber listening to the "Song of Reincarnation," were annihilated.

’Not good!’

Jiang Chen’s expression changed dramatically. He retreated continuously, holding the now-unconscious Xiao Qingyi.

"Where do you think you’re going!"

Yun Jianshen pursued him relentlessly.

With his hands clasped behind his back, his long robes fluttering and snapping in the wind, terrifying streams of Sword Qi erupted from his body.

The Sword Qi crisscrossed, swirling around him.

Wherever he passed...

everything was blanketed by the terrifying Sword Qi.

The houses, courtyards, and pavilions were all destroyed, collapsing and turning to level ground. The townspeople living inside were all reduced to ash.

’Is that... Yaya’s room?’ Jiang Chen’s expression changed suddenly.

Yun Jianshen’s gaze swept over the area, a cruel smile on his lips. "Annihilate!"

BOOM—

The small courtyard where Yaya lived was crushed inch by inch, torn to shreds. Jiang Chen watched, horrified, as the adorable little girl, nestled beside her mother, wore a sweet, contented smile on her porcelain-doll face.

But under Yun Jianshen’s furious Sword Qi, Yaya was ripped to pieces.

Jiang Chen’s entire body trembled violently...

Memories of the cute, sensible, and kind little girl flooded his mind.

"Big brother, you keep staring at Yaya’s tanghulu. Are you hungry?"

"Big brother, you can have this tanghulu. You have to go listen to Sister Qingyi play the zither..."

"Goodbye, big brother..."

Her innocent smile, her clear eyes, her kind gestures—they were all so vivid in his memory.

But now...

She was gone!

Everything was gone!

Jiang Chen looked around. The entire Taoyuan Town had been utterly destroyed, leveled to the ground. Thousands of townspeople had been turned to dust, ceasing to exist.

"Are you furious? Do you wish you could kill me? Hahaha... a pity, a real pity, but you don’t have the strength!"

Yun Jianshen looked at Jiang Chen with an arrogant and indifferent gaze, saying contemptuously, "In this world, the weak are prey for the strong, and only the powerful are respected. I wield absolute power. It’s only natural for me to annihilate ants like you. And you ants can only be angry; there’s nothing you can do to me. Boy, kneel and beg me. I might even grant you a quick death!"

All are ants beneath the Heavenly Destiny Realm.

In Yun Jianshen’s eyes, Jiang Chen was nothing more than an ant. He couldn’t care less about an ant’s anger and hatred!

Holding Xiao Qingyi, Jiang Chen’s pale face took on a solemn expression. The shattered Taoyuan Town, the dead townspeople, the crushed Yaya, the self-detonated Aunt Yun—all of it transformed into an infinite rage that filled his entire soul.

He exhaled slowly, then spoke word by word, with unshakable resolve. "A weak carp that leaps over the Dragon Gate can become a True Dragon soaring through the Nine Heavens. A dormant Golden Scale, upon encountering water, can ascend to the clouds. No one is destined to be ordinary forever. Right now, I may just be an ant you can crush at will, but one day, I will catch up to you, and even surpass you."

The Spirit-Slaying Sword materialized in his right hand.

He slashed the blade across his left palm, opening a gash. Blood gushed out, dyeing his entire hand red. Jiang Chen declared word by word, "Yun Jianshen, I, Jiang Chen, hereby swear a Great Heart Demon Oath. In this life, I will kill you. If I break this vow, may I be struck by heavenly lightning and never find peace in reincarnation!"

RUMBLE—

From the unseen world, a will of heaven and earth descended. The blood on Jiang Chen’s palm transformed into a mist that flew high into the sky and gradually dissipated.

It was as if an unseen will had acknowledged his oath!

The Great Heart Demon Oath!

This was the most vicious oath a Martial Artist could swear.

Even Yun Jianshen was visibly moved. The cold glint in his eyes condensed into a great lake of killing intent. He gritted his teeth and snarled, "You little bastard, your desire to kill me is that strong? How could I possibly let you live? Just die!"

Before his words had even faded, Yun Jianshen raised his palm to the sky. It transformed into a massive, sky-covering hand, like a majestic mountain about to fall, intent on annihilating Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen did his utmost to resist, but he was completely unable to withstand the killing blow of a Heavenly Destiny Realm expert.

As he watched the sky-covering palm descend before his very eyes,

the shadow of death enveloped his body and soul.

Jiang Chen held Xiao Qingyi tightly, his eyes filled with despair and unwillingness, but not a trace of fear or regret.

’A true man in this world does what must be done and protects those who must be protected. What does it matter if he dies in the process?’

Just as Jiang Chen was about to be obliterated by Yun Jianshen’s palm, in that critical, hair’s-breadth moment, a black figure suddenly appeared, followed by a voice, arrogant to the extreme...

"Jiang Chen is my brother. You, a mere Heavenly Destiny Realm nobody, dare to speak of killing him?"

PS: First Chapter of the day, two more to go. I’ll keep writing!